WALT DISNEY TREASURES - MICKEY MOUSE IN LIVING COLOUR

Region 2 (UK) Edition

Review by Andrew Smith

Well, after a long wait R2 are finally able to enjoy the Disney Treasure sets that fans over the pond have had available for some time. Was it worth the wait? Yes, actually. For any fans of the house of mouse this set is a must.

Mickey needs no introduction; there is barely a country on the planet where he is not recognisable, a symbol of determination and the American dream. It was these colour cartoons of the thirties that cemented him as a cultural icon, and the pioneering years of 1935-38 are represented in their entirety (twenty-seven shorts) on this wonderful two disk set.

The first thing of note is that the tin in which the standard DVD case is enclosed is much larger than the R1 version. While this might cause some trouble in regards to storage space there is no need to worry about the disks getting banged around loose inside. Once the tin is opened it is obviously some care has gone into this design; an imitation felt lining keeps everything in place and adds a touch of extra class. 

Disk one opens with an introduction by film historian Leonard Maltin, while this is very interesting it can be skipped through, taking the viewer directly to the main menu. As far as I can tell the menu design is identical to its R1 counterpart: the main reason for this seeming the case is the American spelling of “color”. Although simple, the menus are certainly charming, and retain the style of these early shorts. Each page has a different piece of music from one of the cartoons, only serving to heighten the period feeling.

The Cartoons can be viewed as one through a Play All function, or, alternatively, accessed individually via menus which separate them into different years.

The shorts for disk one are as follows:

1935

The Band Concert, Mickey's Garden, On Ice, Pluto's Judgement Day, Mickey's Fire Brigade

1936

Thru the Mirror, Mickey's Circus, Mickey's Elephant, Mickey's Grand Opera, Mickey's Polo Team, Alpine Climbers, Moving Day, Orphan's Picnic, Mickey's Rival

While they may no longer be laugh-out-loud funny to most, the cartoons still hold all of the charm, innovation and warmth that Walt Disney personally injected into each. Despite being almost seventy years old the quality of the Technicolor film prints is amazing, with only minor dirt and some slight image flicker evident. Very acceptable, and obviously much improved over the versions you will have seen on television over the years.

An interesting extra on this disk is The Parade of Award Nominees. Made especially for the 1934 Academy awards this never-before-available short actually features the first colour film appearance of Mickey Mouse, beating the generally accepted Band Concert to the post.

The other extra on this disk is possibly the highlight of the set. Walt Disney Studios were the first animation studio to use pencil tests during production. The rough drawings were used to tighten the story and improve the flow of each film, and it is great to see three tests in their entirety, available via their own menu, or by using the angle button on your remote, allowing you to switch between finished animation and the tests. 

Disk two covers up until 1938:

1937

Hawaiian Holiday, Moose Hunters, The Worm Turns, Magician Mickey, Mickey's Amateurs, Clock Cleaners, Lonesome Ghosts

1938

Mickey's Parrot, Boat Builders, The Whalers, Mickey's Trailer, The Brave Little Tailor

The main extra on this disk is a featurette, again hosted by Leonard Maltin, that discusses Mickey’s transition to colour, and the impact it had on him as a star. Very enjoyable, if a little brief, this documentary benefits from the input of original animator Ward Kimball.

Also here is a gallery of rough sketches and poster art.

Highlights from both of the disks include The Band Concert, Mickey’s first colour theatrical cartoon, On Ice, which features all of the early Disney characters bar Pete, and Mickey’s Trailer which makes me laugh every time I see it, when Goofy attempts to eat in the cramped confines of the caravan.

However, purists beware, although the set is advertised as unedited there some dialogue editing in The Clock Cleaners. This is on the Region One set as well. It is a very minor change, only really resulting in the loss of one Donald line.

Finally there are two Hidden Mickey’s (Easter Eggs to me and you) that can be found as follows:

SPOILER    [Click and drag to read]

Disk One:         Disk One: On the Main Menu highlight the Play All feature and press the right button on the remote to highlight Mickey's head. Press enter.

You will be treated to an extract from an archive Disneyland television show in which Walt discusses the mouse that made him famous. This features possibly his most famous quote, “I hope we never loose sight of one thing. That this was all started by a mouse”.

Disk Two:  On the main menu use the up button on your remote to highlight a hidden Mickey head. Press enter

                        A delightful promotional cartoon for the Nabisco biscuit company makes this set of cartoons complete. Rarely seen in this unedited form, Mickey’s Surprise Party is put into context by an introduction from Leonard Maltin.

This set is definitely worth buying. While it isn’t packed full of special features it does represent good value for money at £19.99 RRP for twenty-seven cartoons, plus some very snazzy, if limited, bonus material.